James Cook University Subject Handbook - 2016

BZ3725 - Herpetology

[Offered in even-numbered years]

Credit points: 03
Year: 2016
Student Contribution Band: Band 2
Administered by: College of Science and Engineering

Australia has one of the richest faunas of frogs and reptiles found on any continent. The Australian herpetofauna is taxonomically and functionally diverse, with a wide variety of ecological types, habitat requirements and life histories. Reptiles and amphibians are poorly studied in comparison with the other terrestrial vertebrates and are generally less vagile and more habitat-specific than birds or mammals. They can thus serve as valuable indicators of the status of habitats and should be included in habitat evaluations. Members of both taxa exhibit a very wide range of reproductive and behavioural adaptations that enable them to survive in Australias harsh environments. Examination of the diversity of form and function of Australian amphibians and reptiles, emphasising the tropical fauna using techniques needed to survey them and study their biology.

Learning Outcomes

Assumed
Knowledge:
Students enrolling in this subject should have a good understanding of basic zoology (ZL1001 or BZ1004 or equivalent) and ecology.
Prerequisites:(ZL1001 OR BZ1004 OR AG1004) AND BZ2440
Inadmissible
Subject
Combinations:
ZL3211 ZL5211 BZ5725

Availabilities

Townsville, Block, Study Period 10
Census Date 08-Dec-2016
Face to face teaching 21-Nov-2016 to 02-Dec-2016
Coord/Lect: Professor Lin Schwarzkopf.
Contact hours:
  • 36 hours lectures
  • 6 days fieldwork
Assessment:end of semester exam (50%); other exams (15%); assignments (25%); field report; (10%).

Note: Minor variations might occur due to the continuous Subject quality improvement process, and in case of minor variation(s) in assessment details, the Subject Outline represents the latest official information.